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Changed my mind about those cheap scan tools from the auto parts store
I always thought those sub-$100 code readers were just junk for people who didn't know better. A guy at a truck stop in Flagstaff told me he'd been using one for basic stuff on his rig for over a year. I was flat broke last month when my check engine light came on, so I grabbed one for $79 just to see what code it was. It pulled the P0420 code right away, same as my buddy's $500 scanner did when I double-checked. It won't do live data or special functions, but for a quick read to point you in the right direction, it actually works. It saved me a tow and a diagnostic fee. I still need the good tools for real work, but I was wrong to write them off completely. Has anyone else found a use for those basic readers in the shop, or do you still tell customers to avoid them?
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skylerr2319d ago
Honestly, that's the smart way to use them. I keep a cheap one in my glove box for exactly that. It won't fix the car, but knowing if it's a serious code or just an O2 sensor lets you decide if you can drive it to the shop or need a tow right now. For a basic code check, they're totally fine. What's the first thing you check when you pull a common code like that?
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